NSmen and their families have much to look forward to as SAFRA partners DBS Bank to offer more exclusive benefits and privileges to meet their lifestyle needs. Kicking off the partnership, two new multi-functional cards - the SAFRA DBS credit and debit cards, will make their debut in April next year to offer NSmen the best of both worlds.

This initiative was jointly announced today by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Second Minister for Defence and President of SAFRA, and Mr Sim S. Lim, Country Head of DBS Singapore, at the SAFRA Toa Payoh Open House.

Leveraging on both SAFRA and DBS' network of partners, SAFRA members can now enjoy special discounts and privileges at over 1,700 merchant outlets island-wide with the two new cards. These include merchants covering a wide array of products and services ranging from F&B, groceries and shopping to entertainment and travel. Cardholders can also expect more exclusive lifestyle privileges to be introduced at a later date.

Both cards will also provide greater convenience with multiple functionalities such as ATM, Contactless ePurse Application (CEPAS) and contactless payment features to enable electronic payments for public transport services as well as retail purchases at participating outlets.

Application for the new SAFRA DBS credit and debit cards will be open to SAFRA members, NSmen and their families in the first quarter of next year.

Mr Chan Chun Sing commented: "I am very happy to have DBS Bank as our partner because both organisations go back a long way to the time of Singapore's independence when both were started to benefit Singaporeans. Hence, we hope this will be a lasting partnership between SAFRA and DBS Bank and in time to come it will generate even more benefits to recognise our NSmen."

He added: "I would also like to urge other partners to come forward and join us. Following the NS45 benefits last year, SAFRA membership has grown to more than half a million NSmen and their families. It is indeed a tremendous opportunity for commercial vendors. Not only can commercial organisations benefit from this pool of half a million potential customers and their families, our members can also benefit from the services provided by these businesses."

"DBS' mandate in the founding years of Singapore was to help the industrialisation of the nation and we remain committed to doing our best to contribute to total defence. Through this partnership with SAFRA, we want to express our appreciation to our NSmen for their significant contribution to the nation. With the new cards, SAFRA members can now look forward to an enhanced suite of exclusive benefits, bringing about greater value and convenience to them and their families," said Sim S. Lim, Singapore Country Head, DBS Bank.

Together with the basic SAFRA membership card, all three cards will also feature a new vibrant design that represents SAFRA's mission to build stronger bonds among the NSman community.

SAFRA currently has more than 500,000 members including NSmen and their families. Members enjoy access to a wide range of quality facilities at five SAFRA clubs island-wide. More than 1,900 activities are also organised annually to help members keep fit and spend quality time together.